Egypt will increase its natural gas production to between 5.5 and 6bn cubic feet per day by end of 2019, Oil Minister Tarek El Molla said on Sunday, up from the current 3.9bn cubic ft per day. Egypt currently has 12 natural gas field development projects underway worth a total of USD33bn in investment, Molla said, speaking at the inauguration of a fertiliser plant in the port city of Damietta. The three largest projects, which include the mammoth Mediterranean gas field Zohr discovered by Italy's Eni last year, are expected to collectively bring 4.6bn cubic ft of gas per day online by start of 2019, said Molla. Egypt is looking to rent its third floating and storage regasification unit (FSRU) by 2Q17, he added. "With the arrival of the third regasification unit, Egypt's total imports of natural gas will reach 2bn cubic feet per day," said Molla. Egypt currently imports around 1-1.1bn cubic ft per day of LNG. (Reuters)